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One thing Ashurst has got right is the policy in some teams of not asking associates to cancel prearranged holidays for something as trivial as work.

Not surprisingly, the trend seems unlikely to catch on in those fee-hungry US firms that have once again been hoovering up City lawyers like City lawyers used to hoover up cocaine — although not at Ashurst, our lawyers have asked us to point out.

Former Ashurst big-hitter Chris Ashworth — who last year upped sticks for O’Melveny & Myers — recently emphasised the scale of the culture shock that lies in wait for UK lawyers who succumb to life under the dollar.

In 20 years at Ashurst, Ashworth recently told The Diary, he had never been required to cancel or postpone a holiday due to firm business. Yet despite only joining O’Melveny in December, he has already been forced to do exactly that.

Ashworth made clear that he was more than happy waiting around to see out the deal, adding — a touch implausibly — that the work itself was so stimulating he would rather be in the office anyway.

That sentiment might be more understandable if Ashworth were destined for the same leaky B&B in Skegness where The Diary spends its annual day off — rather than the usual exotic locales much beloved by perma-tanned partners.

However, with so many law firms bending over backwards to please their staff these days, Ashworth would be well advised to keep his fondness for the office to himself — in case the powers that be take up his offer and phase out fee earners’ holidays altogether.

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